HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Monday, August 30, 2010

Celebrate 30 Years of Crime-Fighting Action For the First Time on Blu-Ray October 5th

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 30, 2010) – The “take no prisoners” cop MAD MAX rides onto Blu-ray for the first time October 5 as MGM Home Entertainment releases the post-apocalyptic action classic. Starring Mel Gibson (Braveheart, Lethal Weapon) and directed by George Miller (Happy Feet, Babe: Pig in the City), MAD MAX was hailed by the New York Times as one of the “Best 1000 Movies Ever.”

Now viewers can experience the thrilling dystopian action film with an all-new Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Special features include filmmaker commentary and the documentary “Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon,” featuring interviews with the original crew and film experts. The new release also features the very popular original Australian audio track in addition to the American dubbed track.

Considered one of the best films of 1979, MAD MAX garnered three Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards for editing, sound and musical score. The film was also nominated by the AFI for Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

In the ravaged near future, a savage motorcycle gang rules the road. Terrorizing innocent civilians while tearing up the streets, the ruthless gang laughs in the face of a police force hell-bent on stopping them. But they underestimate one officer: Max Rockatansky (Gibson). And when the bikers brutalize Max's best friend and family, they send him into a mad frenzy that leaves him seeking revenge, which is the only thing left in the world for Max to live for.

The MAD MAX Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack is available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 U.S. /$25.99 Canada. Prebook is September 8.

Tony Jaa, the martial arts master who “is as mesmerizing as ever” (Entertainment Weekly), stars in this epic tale of revenge set hundreds of years in the past. This prequel to Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior takes Jaa’s skills to the next level, showcasing him as a master of a wide range of martial arts styles. “The BEATDOWNS ARE EPIC, with several jaw-dropping set pieces. The climatic scene qualifies as one of the BEST MARTIAL ARTS FIGHT SCENES EVER” (Los Angeles Daily News).

Sunday, August 29, 2010

WATCH THE ULTIMATE CRIME-FIGHTING MACHINE LAY DOWN THE LAW LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Los Angeles (August 27, 2010) – The cyborg super-cop Robocop defends citizens of Old Detroit with three times as much action when the ROBOCOP TRILOGY arrives as a Blu-ray collector’s set October 5. Just in time for the holiday season, this three disc set from MGM Home Entertainment contains the original ROBOCOP on Blu-ray, as well as ROBOCOP 2 and ROBOCOP 3 on Blu-ray for the first time.

Packed full of memorable moments and Robocop quotes, the ROBOCOP TRILOGY is a fan must-have. Viewers can experience their favorite “human” robot in all three classic films, now on Blu-ray. Directors Paul Verhoeven (Totall Recall, Basic Instinct) of ROBOCOP and ROBOCOP 2 and Fred Dekker (Monster Squad Forever, Nighs of the Creeps) of ROBOCOP 3 bring the half robot, half police officer to life with the help of an intensely talented cast, including Peter Weller (The Order; 24), Robert Burke (Good Night, and Good Luck; Tombstone), Kurtwood Smith (Rambo III; That 70’s Show) and Nancy Allen (Law and Order, Carrie).

In ROBOCOP (1987), a terminally wounded cop in crime-ridden Detroit returns to the force as a powerful cyborg with submerged memories haunting him. ROBOCOP 2 (1990) features a corrupt businesswoman seeking to disable Robocop in favor of her own model of cyborg. In ROBOCOP 3 (1993) Robocop saves the day once more. This time the half man/half robot takes on ruthless developers who want to evict some people on "their" land.

The ROBOCOP TRILOGY collector’s edition on Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $59.99 US/$69.99 Canada. Prebook is September 8.

Transports Onto Blu-ray And DVD October 5 From MGM Home Entertainment With Over Two Hours Of Bonus Materials

Timed To The Season 2 Premiere On SyFy September 28

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (August 23, 2010) – Emmy® nominated* for outstanding special visual effects, the first season of the hit show “SGU” debuts as a complete set on Blu-ray and DVD October 5 from MGM Home Entertainment. The collection features the opening chapter in the spectacular saga as it follows a group of people that is unexpectedly transported to the other side of the universe only to find that their sole mission is survival.

An exciting stylistic change from previous Stargate series, “SGU” Season One offers an in-depth look at human nature and the inner struggle between right and wrong. The latest series of the popular franchise features a brand new cast including Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty), Brian J. Smith (Hate Crime), David Blue (“Ugly Betty”), Jamil Walker Smith (“Hey Arnold!”), and newcomers Louis Ferreira, Alaina Huffman, Patrick Gilmore and Elyse Levesque. Plus fans will enjoy special appearances by original cast members Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”) and Amanda Tapping (“Stargate SG-1”).

Showcasing all 20 episodes, the “SGU” Season One Blu-ray and DVD feature an extended pilot with never-before-seen footage, exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes, video diaries and commentary on every episode. In addition, fans can enjoy Blu-ray exclusive special features such as extra Destiny SML (Star Map Log) and the SGU: Survival Instinct Game. The brand new interactive game challenges players to use their knowledge, intelligence and skillfulness to jump through a series of time loops in order to return to the Destiny. The “SGU” Season One Blu-ray will be available as a five-disc set for the suggested retail price of $59.99 U.S./$69.99 Canada, and as a six-disc DVD collection for $49.98 U.S./$59.98 Canada. Prebook is September 8.

35mm programming will include a Friday night Triple Feature and a Saturday night "Dusk to Dawn" show. Classic horror trailers and vintage concession ads will be shown in between features. Horror vendors will be set up on the Midway Drive-In grounds on during the afternoons.

Located in northern Illinois between Dixon and Sterling, (a two hour drive from Chicago), the Midway Drive-In is home to the oldest Drive-In screen in Illinois. Hotel accommodations and campgrounds are located just minutes from the Midway Drive-In.

Bruce Campbell at the Drive-In!
Bruce Campbell (The EVIL DEAD series, TV’s “BURN NOTICE”) will be a special guest. Bruce will be signing autographs, conducting a lively Q & A and introducing a big screen presentation of his film “MY NAME IS BRUCE”. Bruce will be appearing Saturday Sept. 11, 2010.

Grindhouse Releasing presents Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD on the big screen and more!!!
Grindhouse Releasing is presenting a nationwide 35mm theatrical re-release of Sam Raimi's "THE EVIL DEAD", and is giving it a big screen outdoor presentation at the Midway Drive-In. Grindhouse Releasing’s newly restored print of “THE EVIL DEAD” will be screened on Saturday Sept. 11 on the HUGE 90 foot wide Midway screen along with “EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN, and “ARMY OF DARKNESS”.

Charles Band and his Full Moon Road Show!
The weekend will include many special events, such as Charles Band and his Full Moon Roadshow. Charles Band released many cult classics at Drive-Ins during the 70's and 80's, and we're thrilled to have him as a guest for his first Full Moon Roadshow appearance at a Drive-In!

Tickets now on Sale
Advance tickets now on sale. Visit www.flashbackweekend.com for updates or call (847) 478-0119 for more info.

Also, please note the title will not appear on the WBshop.com until next Tuesday. Please check back next week using the link provided above.

Synopsis:
The dramatic saga continues in the complete second season of Falcon Crest, the popular, long-running series centered on the rich vineyards and richer people of Northern California’s wine country. Academy Award® winner Jane Wyman stars as winery matriarch Angela Channing, who will let nothing – family, honor, the law – stand between her and power. Co-stars include Robert Foxworth as Chase Gioberti, Angela’s upstanding nephew and rival, and Lorenzo Lamas as Lance Cumson, Angela’s scheming, playboy grandson. Meet the characters…indulge in the lifestyle…savor the second season of of vintage television melodrama.

About FALCON CREST:
Created by Earl Hamner of The Waltons fame, the highly popular prime time television soap opera Falcon Crest ran from 1981 to 1990. Set in the fictional city of Tuscany Valley, it centered on two wealthy wine families: the Channings, headed by corruptive matriarch, Angela Channing (Jane Wyman), and their rivals, the Giobertis. Falcon Crest ran for nine seasons on CBS, and was a Top 20 show in the Nielsen ratings for four straight years, ranking #13 in its debut year and reaching #7 by the third season.

"A pulsating revelation on many levels" - Rex Reed , New York Observer

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Disappearance of Alice Creed, a tense and twisty British thriller, comes out on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 23rd, from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Described as a “brutally efficient thriller” by Mike Hale of the New York Times, the film draws the viewer into a daring kidnapping scheme that complicates the balance of power between captor and victim with fast-paced action, smart dialogue, and sharp performances by an elite and award-winning British cast. Produced by Adrian Sturges (The Escapist), the film stars Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia ), Martin Compston (Sweet Sixteen, Red Road ) and Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky, Sherlock Holmes). This is the debut feature from writer-director J Blakeson, and has already been called a “genuine mind-blower of a movie [and] has more real narrative surprises up its sleeve than any American caper film since The Usual Suspects” by Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed will be available on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $34.99 and on DVD for an SRP of $29.97. Extras include commentary tracks featuring director J Blakeson, storyboard featurettes, extended scenes with commentary, and more!

On a suburban street, two masked men seize a young woman. They bind and gag her and take her to an abandoned, soundproofed apartment. She is Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton), daughter of a millionaire. Her kidnappers, the coldly efficient Vic (Eddie Marsan) and his younger accomplice Danny (Martin Compston), have worked out a meticulous plan. But Alice is not going to play the perfect victim – she isn’t about to let her captors use her as capital without a fight. Alice enters into a battle of wills which strains the already fractious relationship between the two men. As the deadline for the exchange draws nearer, all three are brought close to the breaking point, with Vic and Danny’s foolproof plan descending into a desperate struggle for survival. In a tense power-play of greed, duplicity, and survival we discover that sometimes disappearances can be deceptive, and even the most meticulous plans can go awry if you don’t choose your victim wisely.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

For a low-budget indy horror flick, Pearry Teo's NECROMENTIA (2009) is a pretty impressive piece of work. How entertaining it is depends on your expectations. While I didn't find any of it particularly scary, it has a desolate, creepy-crawly vibe that gets under your skin. In musical terms, it's less of a rock-out and more of a dirge.

The story revolves around three men whose fates are linked by an obsession with bringing departed loved ones back from the dead. Hagen (Santiago Craig) laboriously preserves the body of his beloved Elizabeth while holding on to her promise that if she died she would return to him. Travis (Chad Grimes) loses his wheelchair-bound brother Thomas (Zach Cumer) to suicide while caring for him, which drives him to seek supernatural help. Unfortunately, this comes in the form of Morbius (Layton Matthews), a mysterious and deceptive underworld figure with his own secret agenda.

Watching the unhinged but diligent Hagen at work on Elizabeth's decaying body with his makeshift mechanical devices while mumbling busily to her is strange enough, but seeing what Travis does for a living will test your "torture porn" tolerance. Suffice to say it involves clients who crave intense pain. Most of the other graphic stuff consists of the usual old-school gore such as disembowelings and slashings. The latter comes into play mainly when a character wishes to enter Hell or send someone there, which can be achieved by carving large arcane symbols upon the flesh. Travis performs the procedure on Hagen as part of his deal with Morbius (for reasons that we discover later on) in order to rescue his brother.

Director Teo uses his limited resources to give the film a rich, often nightmarish atmosphere. The claustrophobic sets are dark and decadent-looking with lots of painstaking retro detail, exquisite lighting, and artfully muted colors. "Hell" is depicted mainly as a long underground tunnel lined with pipes and electrical wiring, where lurks a tall, shambling monster that is a triumph of makeup design. Much of the film's visual sense and overall tone are, as Teo is quick to admit, inspired by Clive Barker, while still being unique and original.

Direction and editing are painstakingly good, but Teo is in no hurry to rush us through a sensory thrill ride. He takes his time with scenes such as the one in which Travis slowly shaves the trembling Hagen with a straight razor or carves a ticket-to-Hell symbol on his back with the meticulous care of a tattoo artist. Things get wonderfully surreal when Travis leaves Thomas alone in front of the TV and the boy's demented mind conjures the bizarre, carnival-like "Mr. Skinny Show", starring an obese man in pig mask and diapers who dances around singing a cheerful ditty about suicide. The television itself is an impressive display of the set designer's imagination.

As Travis, Chad Grimes gives an intense performance that's one of the best things about the film. He really is interesting to watch, especially in his scenes with the equally-good Zach Cumer as Thomas. Both Santiago Craig as Hagen and Layton Matthews as Morbius do well at playing the two different phases of their characters, before and after the death of Elizabeth, while Zelieann Rivera is compelling as the duplicitous, darkly-alluring woman who sets it all into motion.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Subtitles are in English and Spanish. Extras include an entertainingly yakky commentary track with director Teo and actors Chad Grimes and Crow Garrett, a lengthy interview segment with Teo and Grimes, and a trailer.

Not a firecracker but a slow burn, NECROMENTIA will probably be too slow and ponderous for some viewers but should offer rewards for horror fans patient enough to settle into it. I haven't revealed much about how the story eventually winds its way around the three protagonists or even mentioned Morbius' mortal origins, how he became an infernal being, and what his motives are regarding Travis and Hagen. Discovering how it all fits together is part of the fun. I did find the ending abrupt and unsatisfying at first, but upon second viewing it took on a morbidly melancholy edge that seems to work.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Including Exclusive Motion Comics That Reveal The Predator’s Back-story

LOS ANGELES (August 24, 2010) – “This planet is a game preserve, and we’re the game.” The ultimate hunters are back when Robert Rodriguez’ PREDATORS arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 19th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment with all new special features, bringing you deeper into the Predator universe. Robert Rodriguez also presents a series of exclusive prequel motion comics on the Blu-ray and DVD that take you beyond the movie and deliver a truly one-of-a kind PREDATORS experience. The Blu-ray version, harnesses the power of BD Live to extend the experience even more with exclusive PREDATORS content and interactive entertainment.

Rodriguez’ reboot of the classic Predator franchise redefines fear and suspense while paying homage to the original thriller. Drop into immediate nerve-racking thrills as elite killers find themselves falling out of the sky into the hostile terrain of an alien planet – the home turf of a gruesome pack of hunters. Chosen for their ruthless abilities to hunt humans, they must band together to survive against this race of merciless predators. Starring Adrien Brody (The Pianist) as Royce, Topher Grace (Valentine’s Day), Alice Braga (Repo Men, I am Legend), with Danny Trejo (Heat, Machete), and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix).

PREDATORS will be available on a 2-Disc Blu-ray package with Digital Copy for suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S. / $49.99 Canada and on a standard DVD for suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada. Pre-book is September 22nd.

PREDATORS DVD Special Features
Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and director, Nimród Antal
De-cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain
Motion Comics
--Moments of Extraction: Robert Rodriguez presents exclusive prequel vignettes voiced by the cast of PREDATORS. Witness the secret adventures that turned two of our world's most ruthless killers into the ultimate Predator prey
--Isabelle
--Mombasa
-Crucified

When the lovable, mild-mannered Cleveland Brown moves back to his hometown in Virginia to start a new life with his old high school sweetheart, their fledgling family faces everything from crazy redneck neighbors to an outrageously overcrowded honeymoon in this uproarious animated romp. Featuring the voices of MacFarlane, Mike Henry (“Family Guy”), Sanaa Lathan (AVP: Alien vs. Predator), and Nia Long (Are We There Yet?), “The Cleveland Show” The Complete Season One also includes all-star guest appearances by Kanye West, Arianna Huffington, “Saturday Night Live’s” Will Forte, writer-director David Lynch and more.

Created by Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel and Mike Henry, "The Cleveland Show" was TV's highest-rated new scripted half hour this season among adults 18-34 and teens. The upcoming second season will feature guest voices including Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Will.I.Am and Justin Timberlake and “The Cleveland Show” has already announced a third season on FOX.

“The Cleveland Show” The Complete Season One DVD collection includes 21 episodes on four discs and features cast and crew commentary, uncensored audio and video, deleted scenes, a table read with Kanye West, the Earth, Wind & Fire Christmas music video “Get Your Hump On” and more. As an added bonus, consumers will receive fan-favorite clips that can be saved to their mobile device or PC to share with friends and enjoy wherever and whenever they want. The DVD is available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S. / $59.98 Canada.

MGM Home Entertainment celebrates 20 years of the “Best Worst Movie” with this highly anticipated Blu-ray debut, arriving October 5th

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 23, 2010) – “Oooooooh my gaaaaaaaawd…” Troll 2 is arriving on Blu-ray for the first time on October 5th from MGM Home Entertainment. Grab the popcorn, lock the doors, and prepare to be gobbled up by the film that inspired the hit documentary Best Worst Movie.

Joshua Waits has been warned by his grandfather’s ghost that his family is about to embark on a dangerous vacation to the town of Nilbog. Although he tries to stop them, Joshua fails to make his parents see that there is something suspicious about the town. The residents are extremely friendly but are constantly trying to feed the Waits with strange, green delicacies. Joshua soon realizes that the town of Nilbog is actually “goblin” spelled backwards, and that his family has been lured into a trap. With the help of Grandpa Seth, Joshua must save his family from being turned into vegetables and devoured by the vegetarian goblins!

Troll 2 Blu-ray Combo, including both a Blu-ray and DVD disc in BD Amaray. Also available is Troll 2 on a single disc DVD in DVD Amaray will be available for the suggested retail prices of $19.99 US/$21.99 Canada and $14.98 US/$15.98 Canada, respectively. Prebook is September 8.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Latest Dragon Dynasty Installment Strikes Back On DVD September 14th From Vivendi Entertainment And The Weinstein Company

"Full of energy, emotion, and some of the best martial arts choreography of all time" -- dvdcult.com

"A kung fu cult masterpiece" -- kungfucinema.com

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - Brotherhood and bloody vengeance go hand in hand in the Shaw Brothers' kung fu cult classic The Return Of The 5 Deadly Venoms (aka Crippled Avengers), lashing out on DVD September 14 from Vivendi Entertainment and The Weinstein Company. In this quintessential martial arts adventure, an evil warlord and his son are drunk with power, crippling anyone who crosses their path. Four men have fallen victim to their violence - a blind man, a deaf-mute, a man with no legs and a young man who has lost his sanity. The four visit a kung fu master who teaches the four crippled men deadly fighting skills and ways to overcome their disabilities. They then band together and set forth to reclaim their village from the warlord's reign of terror.

Directed by Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms, One-Armed Swordsman), The Return Of The 5 Deadly Venoms combines non-stop action sequences with thrilling acrobatics and superhuman battles. The Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms aka Crippled Avengers will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.93.

Synopsis:
In this Shaw Brothers Classic Film, prepare for non-stop action and a storyline that is "full of energy, emotion, and some of the best martial arts choreography of all time" (DVDcult.com). A band of four physically challenged fighters learn to use their disabilities as their most lethal weapons when they stand up to save their town from a demonic tyrant. Legendary director Chang Cheh (The One-Armed Swordsman, The 5 Deadly Venoms) returns with eye-popping visuals and jaw-dropping fights in this "kung fu cult masterpiece" (Mark Pollard, KungFuCinema.com).

Thursday, August 19, 2010

If you like road pictures, and, more specifically, road pictures about disillusioned sons getting back together with their estranged, irresponsible fathers, then $5 A DAY should be right up your street. It doesn't hurt if you're a Christopher Walken fan or think seeing a MILFish Sharon Stone in a bikini sounds like a nice idea.

Flynn Parker (Alessandro Nivola, FACE/OFF, JURASSIC PARK III) just lost his job as a health inspector because his boss found out about his stretch in prison for a crime that was actually committed by his father, Nat (Christopher Walken), an inveterate hustler and con man. Flynn also just lost his girlfriend Maggie (Amanda Peet), who's tired of all the lies he's told her because he's ashamed of his past. So it's not exactly a good time for Nat to contact him out of the blue, tell him he's dying, and implore his estranged son to drive him to New Mexico for some mysterious experimental treatment.

That's right, it's "road trip" time. But even though we know pretty much how everything's going to turn out, the fun here is in the details. First, you've got Christopher Walken in low-key, laidback funny mode, and even though he seems at first to be sleepwalking through the role (and always looking like he just woke up from the same coma he was in back in THE DEAD ZONE) he gradually warms up to it very nicely.

Walken looks downright scary at first, and it takes awhile for us to stop worrying that he's going to turn into a giant, bug-eyed insect creature and start sucking people's brains out of their skulls, or at least whip out a tommy gun and blast away at his co-stars. His character's really basically a nice guy--he just happens to look like Christopher Walken, who could drive people out of a spook house just by standing there.

The thing that makes Nat so interesting is that he's such a complete moocher who prides himself on never paying for anything. He sleeps in houses that are for sale, tells waitresses at IHOP that it's his birthday so he'll get his meals on the house (he has a fake ID for every day of the year), and absorbs vast amounts of free promotional offers like a sponge.

As Flynn, Alessandro Nivola gives a naturalistic performance and is a good foil for Walken. Flynn's reticence to travel cross-country with Nat is compounded when he discovers they'll be driving a Sweet'N Low ad van and hitting all the Chevron stations so they can gas up on the company's dime. Their trip is comprised of three phases--the "hostility phase" in which Flynn wallows in his deep-seated resentment against Nat, the "gradual acceptance" phase where Flynn learns the truth about certain past misconceptions and realizes that Nat may not be so bad after all, and the third phase which I won't talk about even though you can pretty much figure it out for yourself.

Fortunately, none of this is anywhere near as cute and sappy as it could've been. Most of it's pretty funny, especially when Nat pretends to be a sales rep so he can gorge himself at the company banquet and dance with the wife of the Salesman of the Year (Dean Cain), which almost gets him beaten up until Flynn rescues him. Whether it's ordering room service from the lobby of a hotel or spending a free weekend in a retirement condo, all of his constant hustling schemes and the casual hubris he displays in executing them are entertaining.

All of which causes Flynn to continually ask himself--is Nat really dying, or is it just another scam? What's really up his sleeve? Old family issues emerge, such as why Flynn's mother really left them when he was a kid, and a few big surprises are revealed when they visit Nat's old nemesis Burt Kruger (Peter Coyote), who played a role in breaking up their family. More is revealed to Flynn when they spend a night with his old babysitter Delores (Sharon Stone) and she sets him straight on a few things while putting the moves on Nat. Stone, sporting a cartoonish tan and a pair of knockers that seem to have come from out of nowhere, makes the most of her small role as a brassy babe who knows her way around a hustle herself.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.85:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 surround sound. Subtitles are in English and Spanish. Extras include cast and director interviews, a still gallery, and a trailer.

While the term "relationship movie" usually causes me to duck and cover, $5 A DAY is deftly handled and easy to take, and never once veers into mawkishness or silly farce. With Walken on hand to carry the film in his own inimitable style, it's a road trip well worth taking.

BEVERLY HILLS , CA – There’s nothing like the rush of flying through the air, soaring through the clouds…and coming face-to-face with pure evil! A supernatural thriller that reaches new heights in terror, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Altitude on Blu-ray™ and DVD October 26th. Produced by Escape Factory’s Ian Birkett and directed by award-winning graphic artist and music video director Kaare Andrews (best known for his artwork on Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk comics and the upcoming Astonishing X-Men), Altitude features a hot young cast headlined by Jessica Lowndes (“90210,” The Haunting of Molly Hartley, “Greek”) in this unique sci-fi/horror thriller that gives new meaning to “fear of flying!” SRP is a low $26.98 for the DVD, and $34.99 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is September 29th.

Altitude follows a group of teens on a weekend getaway aboard a small plane that suddenly turns deadly for the rookie pilot (Lowndes) and four young friends: Julianna Guill (Friday the 13th, “90210”), Ryan Donowho (Bandslam, “The O.C.”), Landon Liboiron (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”) and Jake Weary (“As the World Turns”). Minutes after the group takes-off, an unexplained malfunction sends the aircraft climbing out of control into the heart of a mysterious storm. Unable to get their bearings or contact the ground, the survivors gradually realize they are locked in combat with a terrifying supernatural force.

On September 28, 2010, get ready for the Starz series The Los Angeles Times calls “riotously funny,” and E! says is “one of the smartest, most entertaining shows anywhere on TV.” Anchor Bay Entertainment releases Party Down: Season Two, a show that serves up laughs and liver pate. The 2-disc DVD set features all ten wild and witty episodes, plus a bonus gag reel, and will have an SRP of $29.97.

Party Down: Season Two joins the Los Angeles catering crew of Hollywood wannabes still struggling for tips while trying to make it big in tinsel town. Now that Henry (Adam Scott) is finally the manager, he’s not sure if its all worth it. However, after failing to start his own business, Ron (Ken Marino) would trade places with Henry in a heartbeat. Back from her stint doing stand-up on a cruise ship, Casey (Lizzy Caplan) is hoping to break out as a comedienne. Kyle (Ryan Hansen) is handsome, talented and on the verge of being a star, or so he thinks. And Roman (Martin Starr) is still waiting for the world to recognize his nerdy genius. Added to the show this season is Emmy™ and SAG™ award winner Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) as a stage mother with a 13-year-old daughter named Escapade.

With this talented cast, and guest appearances by Jane Lynch (a cast regular last year and now part of “Glee”), Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and J.K. Simmons (Juno), Party Down: Season Two is one party you won’t want to miss.

When the heck did Andy Garcia get old enough to play the dad? The cocky young Vincent Corleone from GODFATHER III now sports a paunch and a few gray hairs, and he looks old enough to be Vincent Corleone's godfather. (Message to Francis Coppola--maybe this would be a good time to start thinking about Part IV.) But he's convincing not only as an honest-to-goodness dad-type, but as the head of a family of eccentrics whose closely-guarded secrets keep them constantly at odds with each other. In the offbeat comedy-drama CITY ISLAND (2009), it's this tendency to withhold information from loved ones that leads to what are known as "comic complications."

City Island is a scenic oceanfront oasis in the middle of the Bronx, where Vincent Rizzo (Garcia) is a hard-working corrections officer. When a newly-arrived young prisoner named Tony (Steven Strait) misses out on an early parole because he has no family to take him in, Vincent springs him from jail himself and moves him into a shack behind his house. Why? Because he's Tony's father, having had a short-lived affair with his mother years ago. But he doesn't tell Tony that he's his father, so Tony thinks he's just nuts or something.

Vincent also doesn't tell his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) that he's taking acting classes because he yearns to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Marlon Brando. The frustrated Joyce, who thinks Vincent's fooling around with another woman, throws herself at Tony to get revenge. Their daughter Vivian (Garcia's real-life daughter, Dominik García-Lorido), who's supposedly on spring break, fails to mention that she's working as a stripper because she lost her college scholarship. And their oddball adolescent son Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller) is understandably reticent to reveal his obsession with extremely obese women, which is kicked into overdrive when he discovers that the gluttonous BBW he admires on the internet lives next door. With all of this deception going on, it's hardly surprising that each member of the family is also a secret smoker, sneaking off to grab a few surreptitious puffs whenever no one else is looking.

While CITY ISLAND sounds like some goofy farce that wrings easy laughs out of such situations, it's actually surprisingly realistic and heartfelt most of the time. The characters are believable despite their quirks, and their volatile interactions (this is one of those Italian families whose dinner conversation includes lots of yelling and swearing) are kept from going over the top into bug-eyed slapstick.

One of the best things about CITY ISLAND is that it doesn't think it's nearly as cute as it might have in lesser hands. Writer-director Raymond De Felitta allows the various comic elements just enough room to breathe while staying rooted in reality. Even so, he occasionally surprises us with something so delightfully unexpected that it evokes hilarity, such as Vincent's extreme reaction when Joyce tells him she's been fooling around with Tony. My favorite bit is when Vincent is scolding Vivian for forgetting her school books as he drives her home from the bus station--when she cries "Stop, Dad!" he ignores her, then crashes into a parked car.

The film switches gears now and then to include a little pathos, mainly during the warm conversations between Vincent and a friend from acting class, a bubbly Englishwoman named Molly (Emily Mortimer) who lends moral support and encourages him to attend an audition for a Scorcese film. (Molly harbors a sad secret of her own which is revealed later on.) Another bit that strikes a melancholy note is the sight of Vincent's venerable acting coach Mr. Malakov, played by the even more venerable Alan Arkin, standing in line for the audition with hundreds of other shlubs and walking away dejectedly when he's dismissed. Vincent's own turn in front of the casting agents begins with him clumsily aping Brando and then, prompted to improvise, taking a comical stab at the kind of tough-guy characters Andy Garcia has played in the past.

With all the deception going on, we know that sooner or later the Rizzos are going to have an all-revealing showdown which doesn't disappoint. The comedy and drama are deftly balanced with Garcia and Margulies pulling it all off like the seasoned pros they are and the younger castmembers holding their own as well. (The final scenes do skirt the edge of bathos just a tad, but mostly manage to avoid it.) Ezra Miller as Vince Jr. is particularly good as the wisecracking but deeply insecure tweener who must deal with his own burgeoning obsessions while also serving as the wryly witty observer of his elders' peculiarities. Not sure if I should admit it, but his character reminded me a lot of me at that age.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Subtitles are in English and Spanish. Extras include a director's commentary, a featurette entitled "Dinner With the Rizzos" with Felitta and his cast discussing the film over some pasta, deleted scenes, and a trailer.

With Andy Garcia's warm, funny, solid performance as its foundation, CITY ISLAND benefits from a sharply-written script and a likable cast who play it to a tee. It isn't a perfect film--at times it seems to wander around a bit before regaining its stride--but I didn't mind wandering with it.